Tuesday, 27 February 2007

The closure of "Azure" Harbour Party the organisers refer as being the "Best Gay and Lesbian Party" has made news around the world, for all the wrong reasons.

This is probably just what the N.S.W. Government and Police want prior to Party goers arriving for the Mardi Gras Parade and After Party.

My Thoughts are;

Firstly how can Azure be the best Gay and Lesbian Party, certainly the view from the dance floor is priceless but that's where it stops.

The sound and lighting system was poor, I have heard and read many complaints about the sound level being very low.

I acknowledge that it is very hard to control the sound levels outside but they should have got it right by now.....

Do the Azure organisers not learn, or don't they care if it rains...

Have the organisers ever been to a ToyBox? obviously not...

The Closure....

There have been thousands of comments written on hundreds of websites about this Party and the early closure. It certainly sounds like the end for Azure. (Probably what the Government wants anyway)

The closure I believe was a political stunt prior to the election, with the death of a girl last week from an overdose at a dance party, the government had to show that it was reacting.

The presence of the drug squad certainly lead to some party goers panicking and taking greater quantities of their party pills at once, resulting in overdoses.

I firmly believe that the government has to accept that they will never stop recreational drugs especially when in N.S.W. 3 out of 4 teenagers admit they have used drugs.

More people die every day from Alcohol and Tobacco related illnesses than recreational drugs.

Do we see the pubs closing early?

The government simply increases the taxes on cigarette's, to try to deter smoking.

What about the number of P plate drivers in high powered vehicles that die in high speed accidents. Why doesn't the government limit the power on cars driven by these inexperienced drivers, set curfews and limit the number of passengers?

When a person is attacked or killed by a shark does the Government send in the calvery to hunt down the shark responsible? No..

Yet one person dies from an overdose on a recreational drug that she chose to take and the Government decides to send the calvery to the next Dance Party.

I don't blame the police they are under direction by the Government that we the voter elect, and I have read many good reports that some officers were not happy that the event was closed and the manner in which it was done.

As a tax payer, I would like to see the police increase their presence on the streets protecting the gay community from the increasing hate violence against us.

The response is always "We don't have the funding or Resources", yet when they want 40 police for a raid on a Dance Party, they can find them.

These are my thoughts, you might not agree with them but thats freedom of speach isn't it.

Taking illegal drugs is a choice of the individual, they know the risks associated with taking them and getting caught, just as drink driving and speeding.

This year if you want to see the Mardi Gras parade, you have a few options. You can wait at the barriers all day, you can scratch around for a milk crate or you can log onto Mardi Gras’ website and watch it from the comfort of your swivel chair.

The parade will be broadcast all its splendour and glamour over the internet via a live webcast direct from Oxford St, making this world famous event accessible to an international audience for the very first time.

Claire de Lune will be hosting the webcast, and she’ll be getting up close and personal with some local and overseas celebrities including Rupert Everett and Brook and Ridge from the hit US show, The Bold and the Beautiful. Hello – it doesn’t get any camper than that.

“This year I’m going to get viewers within a fake eyelash’s length of the drama, the glamour and of course, the hot bodies!” says Claire. “We have celebrities galore, exclusive features but most of all, we’ll provide a birds eye view to the worlds most exciting gay and lesbian parade. It’s the best seat around!”

And not only will you be able to log on and watch it all live, but you’ll even be able to interact with the hosts via the internet.

“Thanks to modern technology, viewers will be able to send me questions and comments that they want me to ask our special celebrity guests. They can interact with the parade in a way never before possible,” says Claire.

Don’t you just love technology? Check it out at Mardi Gras’ website and see why twenty nine years this parade still continues to attract visitors from all over the world.

Oh and sorry it's not free a charge of A$10.00 i guess its the price of two milk crates...

Nowhere as gay as the last but the 79th Annual Academy Awards is for the first time hosted by an openly gay host Ellen DeGeneres and lesbian singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge's who won Best Song for her global warming anthem, ''I Need to Wake Up,'' highlighted not only the environmental issue but also same-sex marriages.

Although the Oscars this year was nowhere as gay as the last, comedian and chat show host Ellen DeGeneres made history as its first openly gay host in its 79-year history and is only the second woman to host the event solo, with Whoopi Goldberg being the first in 2002.

The 49-year-old, who currently hosts an award-winning weekday talk show, came out 10 years ago in her sitcom Ellen and became the first openly gay lead character on a US prime-time television.

That year, she appeared on the cover of TIME magazine with the simple but groundbreaking headline: “Yep, I’m Gay.”Despite being known for her trademark tailored suit style, she revealed that Oscar producers and designers had tried to get her in a dress for the big event.

"There was some pressure with people wanting me to wear a gown. That's understandable; it's a glamorous night. But a gown is just not what I'm most comfortable in. It's not what works best for me," she said.

Drawing on the ethnic diversity of acting nominees, among them five blacks, two Latinas and an Asian, DeGeneres did not miss the chance to remind viewers worldwide of the inequality some people face.

"What a wonderful night, such diversity in the room, in a year when there's been so many negative things said about people's race, religion and sexual orientation. And I want to put this out there: If there weren't blacks, Jews and gays, there would be no Oscars. Or anyone named Oscar, when you think about that."

Monday, 26 February 2007

AZURE PARTY "SHUT DOWN" BY DRUG POLICEThe annual Azure Party was shut by police officers with an emergency warrant at 9pm Sunday night, two hours before its scheduled finish.

The police arrested 26 party-goers and charged them with a variety of drug possession and supply offences. They then sought an emergency closure order from a magistrate, which was granted, the [i]Sydney Morning Herald[/i] reported.

"I think it was actually quite scary," one party-goer told [i]Sydney Star Observer[/i]. "There were people there who would normally just dabble in the occasional joint that were treated like criminals.""I saw hundreds of small bags on the ground. There was just a feeling of panic. No-one was expecting it."The police told the [i]Herald[/i] they were concerned for the safety of other patrons.

My partner and I were going to go to the party on a 37foot cruiser and park just metres from the dance floor,but the weather was not the best so we drove past in the afternoon just to have alook, without my camera unfortunately.

Saturday, 24 February 2007

As if on cue at the stroke of 7pm this evening, a loud bang of thunder could be heard followed by strikes of lightning as the dark clouds rolled in over the city of Sydney to signal the commencement of the Mardi Gras Pool Party.

Thankfully my boy and I chose not to attend, lightning and water don't mix at the best of times. With rain now falling I am relieved but feel for the organisers who have introduced the party back into the Mardi Gras festival as a result of a survey.

A full report of the party in the next day or so from my on the ground in the groove party friend Patrick.

Tomorrow afternoon we are going out on a 37foot cruiser with some friends to enjoy the Harbour Party known as Azure.

Weather permitting of course.

This week I will be attending many parties including the Mardi Gras Parade ,a full report on the parade with photos from inside the parade route will be on my blog so keep reading this week for the full scoop.

Thursday, 22 February 2007

The Gay owned and operated Oxford Hotel on the corner of Taylor Square will open before next Friday night.

I have been monitering the progress of the 6 million dollar redevelopment over the past few weeks. The huge banner and scaffolding came down last week but an empty shell was all I could see.

Today I wondered past it looked like a bee hive, I tried to talk to some builders who were too busy to talk, I then noticed a man in black and thought he looks important. After telling him he looked important he smiled and said he was the project manager.

He said he has 70 tradesman working in and around the hotel at the moment. He said it was due to open tomorrow night but conceeded that was not going to happen but it must be open by next weekend or they are fined for everyday late it is. Understandably as it is the busiest time of the year, Mardi Gras week.

The ground level is a bar and underground nightclub should both be operational, the upstairs restaurant may not be.

Gone is the pink colour, replaced with a heratige colour, with stained timber cafe style doors, it looks great I cant wait to see it next week and call in for a coldy.

So if your coming to Sydney for Mardi Gras do call in and check out the most recently refurbished pub in Sydney.

IT'S the height of summer but the situation that's hotting up at Bondi has nothing to do with the balmy weather.It is understood TV series Bondi Rescue is slowly dividing the two beach patrol groups who patrol Australia's most famous stretch of sand - causing rumour mongering and tensions to sizzle.

Levels of unrest between the volunteer lifesavers and the professional lifeguards who have shot to international fame as the buffed and bronzed heros of the Channel 10 reality show is thought to have begun during the first series, and has reignited since filming on the second series began in early December.

The strained situation on the sand is such that rumours have began circulating suggesting the lifeguards who star in the series are "playing up'' to the cameras in order to spice up the rescue action on screen.

"The animosity has been there since season one - when the cameras are rolling the lifeguards tend to take over a situation in order to be in the centre of scene,'' a volunteer Bondi lifesaver told Confidential.

"Now there are even reports going around that the Bondi Rescue team have been staging situations to further up the drama,'' he said.An insider from Surf Lifesaving NSW - which acts as the representative body for Bondi's volunteer lifesavers - confirmed there had been several reports of rumoured staged events over the past three weeks, but said there was no evidence to back up the claims.

The accusations were vehemently denied by Bondi Rescue's executive producer Nick Murray yesterday. "These guys are professional lifeguards and there is absolutely no way this is the case,'' he said.

In other news the Australian Surf Life Saving Association is celebrating 100 years, as a former lifesaver myself I am proud to see lifesavers being acknowledged.

Australia's first official surf lifesaving club - the first in the world - was founded at Bondi Beach, in Sydney, in 1906.

There was little need for surf lifesaving clubs much before this time as it was illegal to swim in the surf during daylight hours before 1902. It was seen as immoral, and men and women could only 'bathe' in the early morning and late evening, and never at the same time!

It was anounced today that the New South Wales government will be injecting funds into a redelopment to improve the Bondi club to keep it running for a further 100 years.

Wednesday, 21 February 2007

TROUBLED singer Britney Spears is back in rehab just days after shaving off all her hair in a bizarre stunt witnessed by the paparazzi."Britney Spears has voluntarily checked herself into an undisclosed rehab facility today," Spears publicist Larry Rudolph said in a written statement.

"We ask that the media respect her privacy as well as those (privacy concerns) of her family and friends at this time."Rudolph did not say what Spears, 25, would be treated for or where the rehabilitation facility was located.

Get your kit off, throw on your tiniest cossies and get down to the wettest and sexiest night on the Mardi Gras calendar. That's right Pool Party is back with a vengeance!

DJ's Shigeki & Jayson Forbes will be there, pumpin' out what makes them two of Sydney's finest. With staging and lighting perfected for the lush surroundings of Victoria Park Pool, coupled with a sound system capable of generating waves, we guarantee no one will be sitting down for too long.

A good question don't you think, staight or gay who cares, most of the models appearing on the cover are straight, we gays don't care but I for one would like to see DNA have an Oriental on it's cover.

The recent winner of the 2007, Man Hunt International "Jeffrey Zheng" from China demonstrates that Oriental men are as beautiful as European and Australian men. I am an Australian caucasian and am thrilled to see an asian win this event.

Hopefully DNA will acknowlege the fact that an Asian man could and should be on it's cover to demonstrate that it is truely an international magaine.

The $1 billion grand lady of the sea made her maiden visit to Sydney on Tuesday, arriving through the heads at 5.45am (AEDT) before docking at the Garden Island naval base.It was too tall, at 23 storeys high, to sail under the Harbour Bridge and too long to berth at the International Terminal at Circular Quay.

At 7pm (AEDT) Tuesday, the liner was joined by her smaller sister ship, the Queen Elizabeth 2, the two greeting each other with the sound of their foghorns as the QE2 sailed past on her way to Circular Quay.

Tens of thousands of people gathered at vantage points on the foreshore, applauding and cheering the two luxury cruisers.

It was a sight not seen in Sydney since the two ships' predecessors - the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth - greeted each other in the harbour as troop carriers in 1941.Passengers and onlookers were also treated to a fireworks display celebrating the pair's visit.

However at 11pm (AEDT), the majestic monster began its departure on its way to Hong Kong.She leaves behind her smaller sister; the QE2 remains in Sydney until Thursday evening when she departs for Brisbane.

My boy and I went on the Harbour Bridge Climb yesterday afternoon, it was fantastic especially with the Queen Mary 2 in the Harbour, I have a picture coming to my blog very soon, there were three blackhawk helicopters constantly flying in formation around and through the city sky scrapers.Workers might have feared the worst with them flying past their windows, fortunately they were protecting the airways with a Queen in the water... [Wouldn't it be nice if they would do the same thing at the Mardi Gras Pool Party or the Harbour Party this Weekend]Read More......

Part of the huge crowd that turned out for Fair Day in perfect weather conditions.

My Parner and I at the DNA stand

These Graphics will appear at Mardi Gras, they are part of the Poster for the 2007 Mardi Gras.

Fair Day is like a big picnic with hundreds of stands selling and promoting their goods to the gay community, Once finding a cool position under a tree we relaxed with a few very close friends and enjoyed a softie.

It was nice and relaxing and I dont want to appear negative but the Picnic in the Park in Adelaide we could byo bottles of wine which was nice, there was no byo alcohol permitted into the area.

That aside it was a very well organised event to get everyone into the party mood leading up to the biggest event of the year Mardi Gras.

[A gay man handing out red carnations wrapped in leaflets calling for the acceptance of gay love and marriage in eijing’s central business district ]

During a busy lunch hour on Valentine’s Day in Beijing’s central business district, six lesbians and gays handed out 200 red carnations wrapped in leaflets calling for the acceptance of gay love and marriage.

A group of gays and lesbians in Beijing have held the country’s first public appeal for the support of same sex marriage in China.

During a busy lunch hour on Valentine’s Day in Beijing’s central business district, around half a dozen lesbians and gays handed out 200 red carnations wrapped in leaflets calling for the acceptance of gay love and marriage.

ROYALTY triumphed at the British film awards today, with The Queen clinching best film and Helen Mirren best actress for her portrayal of the monarch, while The Last King of Scotland scooped three awards.

In contrast, the latest James Bond movie failed to shake or stir, picking up just one of the nine BAFTA nominations it received - winning the sound quality category.

It was definitely a night for kings as well as queens as Forest Whitaker won best actor for playing the late Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

He beat off competition from Daniel Craig, the controversial but ultimately successful choice to replace Pierce Brosnan as superspy James Bond in Casino Royale.

Today my boy and I with two dear friends, Bruce and Leonard went to watch the Chinese New Year parade in the streets of Sydney around China Town. The damp weather did not stop the massive crowd from watching this special event. It was the first time my bf and I had experienced it, and we thoughly enjoyed it. Unfortunately I was not close enough to capture some sharp photo's but here are a few.

Previous animals were part of the parade, the Dog, Horse and Chicken all made appearances.

I loved the costumes and bright colour, to me it felt like a pre Mardi Gras Parade, and I cant wait for that. Ill be on the inside of the barriers so will have spectacular pictures rain or shine.

Gay icon Madonna's The Confessions Tour: Live from London DVD, which features the singer performing the ballad Live To Tell while suspended from a giant mirrored cross, has been banned by Singapore censors.

Madonna's record breaking Confessions Tour filmed at London's Wembley Arena during her worldwide sold-out 25-city run in 2006 has been banned in Singapore for her performance on a massive neon cross in a mock-crucifixion.

Madonna performed the ballad ''Live To Tell'' while suspended from a giant mirrored cross during her ''Confessions Tour'' last year.

The Confessions Tour: Live from London DVD includes the full, unedited version of the controversial performance of her 1986 single "Live To Tell” as well as songs that span the course of Madonna's extraordinary career such as "Ray of Light", "La Isla Bonita", "Like A Virgin", "Erotica", "Music" to "Hung Up" and “Sorry” from her "Confessions On A Dance Floor" CD.

Having already been criticised in the United States where the tour first launched, the 48-year-old mother of two was again criticised by religious groups for kneeling and taking off a crown of thorns to the back-drop of a crucifix during her concert in Rome where the Holy See - which governs the Catholic Church on behalf of the Pope - is located.

The sold-out Confessions World Tour, which went to from major US cities, Canada, Europe and Japan, is the highest-grossing tour ever by a female artist in history.

ANNA Nicole Smith, the small-town Texas girl turned Playboy Playmate who became a tabloid fixture while fighting all the way to the US Supreme Court over the estate of her elderly billionaire husband, has died in Florida at the age of 39.

Smith, a statuesque blonde who also gained fame as an model for Guess jeans, died at a local hospital shortly after she was reported needing medical help at her Florida hotel room by a private nurse, police said.

Authorities said an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death.Her sudden death came just five months after Smith's 20-year-old son, Daniel Smith, died in the Bahamas three days after the birth of her daughter.

"I can confirm that she is deceased. It's as shocking to me as to you guys," her attorney, Ronald Rale, said. "I don't know anything further. (Her lawyer and husband) Howard (K. Stern) obviously is speechless and grieving."

Seminole tribal fire rescue and Hollywood fire rescue workers tried to revive her at her hotel, said Michael Bloom, president of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

She was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood at 2.10pm, local time, and died there, police said.Smith had been ordered to have her five-month-old baby girl undergo a paternity test as part of a lawsuit by an ex-boyfriend, Larry Birkhead.

Birkhead sued Smith in October, demanding she have the paternity test because he believed he was the father of the girl. Smith had said her lawyer, Howard K. Stern, was the father of the baby.

Smith was born Vickie Lynn Hogan and raised in the small Texas town of Mexia, 130km south of Dallas. She grew up emulating screen legend Marilyn Monroe. She met elderly oil billionaire J. Howard Marshall while dancing at a Houston strip club and married him in 1994, when she was 26 and he was 89.

Marshall died the following year and Smith spent much of the following decade battling members of his family over his estate. In May 2006 the US Supreme Court ruled that Smith could pursue her case in federal court.

Smith, who modelled Guess jeans, was named Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Year in 1993 and had film roles the following year in The Hudsucker Proxy and Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.

Australia’s Attorney-General Philip Ruddock announced Tuesday night that the Commonwealth would override the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government Bill for a second time.

It would be the second time Conservative Prime Minister John Howard's government is invoking special powers to invalidate a territory's law that had been the first in Australia giving legal recognition to same-sex relationships.

ACT, which includes the national capital Canberra, has twice drafted laws that would make it the first of Australia's six states and two territories to legally recognise gay and lesbian relationships which will accord same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual partnerships under proposed "civil partnership" laws.

"It remains the government's opinion that the Civil Partnership Bill would still in its amended form be likely to undermine the institution of marriage," Ruddock said in a statement.

Ruddock was also worried that a formal ceremony to mark a same-sex union would undermine the traditional marriage ceremony. "We're not about to make same sex relationships a formal marriage," Ruddock told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio Wednesday.

ACT Attorney General Simon Corbell said he hoped the conservative federal government would lose power in elections this year so that the ACT could make its own laws.

Calling the Federal Government's reasons for overturning the Bill weak and vague, he said to ABC Radio today: “It just beggars belief that we have a Commonwealth Government that really isn't able to give any substantive argument and just says, `well we think it offends the institution of marriage,' well, what does that mean?"

Officials in Howard's center-right coalition amended federal marriage laws in 2004 to ensure that only men and women can marry.

MIAMI (Feb. 4, 2007) -- A wet and wild Super Bowl, the winning conditions for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts.A team built for indoors found its footing on a rain-soaked track and outplayed the Chicago Bears to win the NFL title 29-17. The Colts were far less sloppy, particularly their star quarterback, who proved he can indeed win the big game -- the biggest game.